A loft, sometimes referred to as an attic, is the space at the top of a property that houses the roof and all the support for the rest of the property. Loft conversions are considered cost effective ways to increase the liveable space within a home without buying a new property as it turns once unusable space in the roof to an area that can have a whole host of uses, such as bedroom, an office, a study or even an extra lounge area.

​Due to the size and complexity of the projects, it is not uncommon for home owners to employ a construction company to complete the loft conversion. Some of these companies will have expertise in other home building projects, such as extensions. As this is a very specialist area, the types of builders that generally complete the loft conversions will be specialists in their own right and may have a number of projects on the go at any one time.

There are different major types of loft conversions that require different permissions depending on where you are in the UK, due to the varying regulations within local authorities. Even though a loft conversion is specific to an individual’s property, each type of loft conversion has its own familiar characteristics, and forms the majority of all conversions that occur in the UK.

Velux – simple loft conversions that maintain the shape of the roof-line with the addition of Velux windows to improve the amount of light that comes into the attic.

Dormer – the most popular type of conversion completed in the UK. Typically these are housed at the back of a property and cause a protrusion from the roof-line in a box like shape.

Hip to Gable – for detached or semi-detached homes with roofs that slope inwards from all four corners, a hip to gable conversion extends a sloped slide to a flat size, increasing the amount of usable space in the loft.

Mansard – these are the most expensive loft conversions as they involve completely changing the shape of the roof-line, which in turn creates a vast amount of usable space. Although not as common as a dormer, mansards are appealing due to essentially creating a whole new story for the property.